May 8- More HoHo, SMN, and shop

An unexpected benny- we get an extra day on our HoHo tickets. Today we took the Blue line, and "Hopped Off" at Santa Maria Novella (SMN). We want to get tickets to Lucca, but I can't get the app to work. Is it because my phone is US? I don't know... but we got to the station, and I was able to use the machine to get tickets. There's a shopping area that has my fave Flying Tiger. I picked up a couple of little things, and after a wc stop (€1, please) we headed back to the bus. I decided to stock up on groceries .

The stop near Santa Croce is skipped because of construction, so I got off at our stop. Some ladies from a Celebrity Cruise wanted to get lunch, so I aimed them up the street. I headed on to my little store, glad that we chose time to enjoy rather than the tour hordes everywhere. I picked up some Coke Zeros, milk, and juice for Himself, yogurt for me, olive oil and bread.

I will say right now, that the Florentine bread makes me long for bread anywhere else. Many centuries ago there was a tax levied on salt by whoever ruled the area back then, so they stopped putting salt in their bread. They still haven't gotten over it.

Walking back from the store at Santa Croce was a bit tough on the arms. But crossing the bridge, I met Cindy & Steve, who are staying in an apartment near the San Niccolo tower. We chatted about San Miniato, Piazzalle Michaelangelo, and the like. They offered to help carry the groceries, since they were going my way. Nice people. They're leaving in a few days, but hope to come back for 2 months.Read more